Health Information Management

Available at: Kingston

Overview

Beginning September 2019, the Health Information Management program will change from a one-year condensed (three semester) format to a two-year (four semester) format.

Get started on your career as a Health Informa­tion professional and help fill the national shortage of skilled practitioners. If you want to work in healthcare, have a strong interest in computers, and know that direct patient care isn't for you, becoming a Health Information professional may be the ideal career choice. This program prepares graduates to work in many different health settings, using the latest in information technology to contribute to quality patient care. You’ll study bio­medical sciences, health information sciences, electronic record systems, statistical analysis, and health law. Students will develop team work and presentation skills. This program is recognized by the Canadian Health Information Management Association (CHIMA). Graduates will be eligible to write the national certifica­tion examination administered by CHIMA and will be entitled to use the credentials CHIM to denote their professional designation.

To learn more about the Health Information Management profession please visit www.echima.ca

Highlights

The HIM professionals are the only certified experts in the science and technology of health information management. Their key role is to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of personal health information within the Domains of Practice: Electronic Health Information Management (e-HIM®); Data Quality; Privacy; Health Information Management standards.

Career Opportunities

Health Information Management (HIM) professionals participate in the collection, analysis and organization of health data to provide information that is used by management teams, clinical care teams, government statistical and funding bodies, researchers as well as information technology product developers. HIM professionals work with personal health records, capturing and encoding patient information, analyzing data, and preparing reports for use in health-care delivery, research and education. HIMs are knowledgeable about health information privacy issues and data security and the legislation that directs the management of personal health information. Health information management professionals are important members of interdisciplinary health care teams contributing to quality patient care. Opportuni­ties exist in a variety of settings such as hos­pitals, family health networks, health research agencies, legal firms, government agencies, and other varied community health services.

The skills gained as a HIM professional are portable and can be applied in a variety of roles, including:

Classification and Coding Specialist

Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist

Chart Management Specialist

Cancer Registrar

Release of Information Analyst/Auditor

Research Associate

Information Governance Analyst

Terminology Technical Specialist

Population Health Analyst

Quality and Patient Safety Advisor

Consultant | Clinical Records Director

Privacy Officer

Project Manager

Utilization Management Officer

A recent Health Informatics (HI)/Health Information Management (HIM) Sector Study has estimated between 6,200 and 12,200 HI and HIM professionals will be needed by 2019 to fill the skill shortage due to replacement and growth demand. The detailed report can be downloaded here (pdf).

Program Name

Health Information Management

Program Code

1008

Credential

Ontario College Diploma

Start Dates

September

Program Duration

2 years

Location (Campus)

Kingston

Canadian Fees

To view a detailed fee schedule, please click here. The fee schedule will open as a PDF in a new window.

International Fees

To view a detailed International fee schedule, please click here. The fee schedule will open as a PDF in a new window.

Additional Costs

Scholarships and Bursaries

St. Lawrence College offers an extensive Student Scholarship and Bursary Program. Scholarships and bursaries for this purpose are sponsored by external organizations and private individuals. These awards recognize our academic excellence, community involvement, contribution to the quality of College life, outstanding achievement and professional potential. For more details visit Bursaries and Scholarships.

Program Outline 2019-20

Semester 1 (to be determined)

Semester 2 (to be determined)

Semester 3 (to be determined)

Semester 4 (to be determined)

Articulation & Credit Transfer Opportunities

SLC graduates have many options to continue their studies with post-secondary institutions across Canada and around the world. Agreements between SLC and other institutions that are specific to this program are listed below. In addition, there are many credit transfer pathway agreements between colleges and universities within the province of Ontario. Please also visit www.ontransfer.ca to search for options relevant to your program area of study.

Prerequisites

Criminal Background Check:
Applicants are advised that Criminal Background Checks (CBC) and Vulnerable Sector Checks conducted by the Canadian Police Information Centre (CPIC) are required for programs with field or clinical placements. Certain criminal convictions may prevent participation in placements and program completion may not be possible. Attaining and paying for a CBC and Vulnerable Sector Screening is the responsibility of the student, and these may have to be renewed every three to six months. Applicants with criminal records are advised to contact the Associate Dean/Campus Dean of the respective school prior to applying.

Health Requirements

IMMUNIZATION - COMMUNICABLE DISEASE requirements

Completion of the IMMUNIZATION - COMMUNICABLE DISEASE FORM is a MANDATORY condition
for your clinical/practical placement. THIS FORM IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY.

Note: Full-time students coverage for vaccines received on or after September 1, can be claimed under the Student Sickness & Accident Insurance Plan.

Testimonials

When deciding to return to school for a second career, the Health Information Management at SLC seemed like a program that would lead to a new and exciting career opportunity. I commuted to school from an hour west of Kingston and I had a toddler at dome so I didn't have a lot of extra time. The program was challenging but I thoroughly enjoyed the work and the lectures. The professors were knowledgeable and each brought forth their own HIM career experiences. They were also very supportive and always available. I passed the certification exam and within months of graduation found the job that made the program so worthwhile for me. The skills I obtained in the Health Information Management Program prepared me for my new career and I am enjoying all the endless opportunities and doors it has opened for me.

Admissions Information

Additional Information

Note: MacIntosh computers (Macs) are not compatible with certain HIM software applications.

Programs at St. Lawrence College are delivered using a variety of instruction modes. Courses may be offered in the classroom or lab, entirely online, or in a hybrid mode which combines classroom sessions with online learning activities. Program delivery can be run weekdays, weekends or evenings. Upon registration, each full-time student is provided a St. Lawrence College email account which is used to communicate important information about program or course events.

Unique Learning Opportunities

WSIB Coverage:Students from health sciences program on placement are covered by Workplace Safety and Insurance Board(WSIB) coverage in the event of an incident.

To be eligible:

A student must be currently registered in the program;

The placement must be sanctioned by the educational institution;

The student must not be paid for the placement.

The HIM program offers students up to 332 hours of practicum experience through the year. Students will have an opportunity to apply the learned theory and skills taught within the first and second semester in a real work setting. Practicum experiences are sought in health information departments in hospital environments or in other healthcare agencies. Students are expected to help secure their placements for the final semester require­ment. An in-house practicum lab has been established to provide students with a com­prehensive learning opportunity for patient care system modules.